Call for Applications: CEGA Offers Up to $67,000 for African Research Projects
The Centre for Effective Global Action (CEGA) at the University of California, Berkeley, is inviting eligible research teams to apply for its 2026 Global Networks Research Grant Competition.
CEGA offers up to US$67,000 per project to support evidence-based research addressing development challenges across 19 African countries, including Nigeria.
The funding initiative aims to support rigorous impact evaluations that generate practical evidence for improving public policies, development programmes and decision-making across East and West Africa.
A total of US$200,000 has been allocated for the competition, with approximately three to four research projects expected to receive funding.
About the CEGA Research Grants
Through its Global Networks programme, CEGA supports collaborative research that addresses critical development challenges and strengthens the use of evidence in policymaking.
For the 2026 competition, priority areas include poverty reduction, economic development, education, agriculture, healthcare, social protection, employment, livelihoods, governance and public policy.
Selected projects must demonstrate how their findings could influence government policies, improve development interventions or support organisations implementing programmes in the targeted countries.
Research proposals must employ rigorous impact evaluation methods capable of identifying causal effects. Purely descriptive or qualitative research projects will not qualify.
Eligible Countries
The competition is open to research projects conducted in the following 19 African countries:
Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Who Can Apply?
The grant is specifically designed for collaborative research teams within CEGA’s academic network.
Eligible applicants must include:
At least one CEGA Fellow.
At least one CEGA Affiliate.
University of California, Berkeley PhD students may lead proposals if sponsored by a CEGA Affiliate.
Government agencies, non-governmental organisations, policymakers and programme implementation organisations are encouraged to collaborate with eligible research teams.
Independent researchers and organisations without the required CEGA network collaboration cannot apply directly.
Grant Benefits
Successful applicants can request up to US$67,000 to implement their proposed research projects.
The competition will distribute US$200,000 among three to four selected projects. Priority may be given to proposals that extend existing CEGA-funded pilot research.
Funded projects are expected to run from May 15, 2027, to October 1, 2028.
Application Requirements
Interested research teams must prepare and submit the following documents:
A research proposal of no more than seven pages, including the cover sheet.
A detailed project budget using CEGA’s prescribed Excel template.
A budget narrative explaining the proposed expenditure.
A Global Networks Co-Authorship Statement outlining collaboration arrangements between the CEGA Fellow and Affiliate.
Applicants may also include letters of support from relevant government agencies, policymakers and implementing partners.
All applications must be submitted in English.
How to Apply
Eligible research teams should visit the official CEGA announcement page to review the complete application guidelines, download the required templates and understand the assessment criteria.
Applications must be submitted through the online application portal.
Application deadline: November 15, 2026.
Award notification: January 19, 2027.
Project implementation: May 15, 2027 – October 1, 2028.
Application Links:
Important: This is a restricted funding opportunity for eligible CEGA Fellows and Affiliates, not an unrestricted grant for all researchers or NGOs.
